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Oregon Rural Health Quality Network Grants Awarded

08/23/16 Portland, Ore.

Ten Critical Access Hospitals Funded

In 2004, a doctor, small hospital administrator and nurse manager came up with the idea to start a quality network specifically for Oregon’s small, rural hospitals. Through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) network grant, funding from ORH and self-generated revenue, The Oregon Rural Health Quality Network (ORHQN) quickly expanded. The network provided case review services as well as various quality training and coordination services. Last year, however, the network closed and chose to use its reserve funds to help support quality efforts in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) through grant opportunities.

ORH administered the grant program on behalf of ORHQN. The grants, which extend over one year (July 2016-June 2017), provide CAHs with the opportunity to expand on existing quality improvement projects or implement new quality related projects of which lead to measurable improvements in health care services and the health status of targeted patient groups.

With a favorable response to the Request for Proposals, the grant scoring committee narrowed their decisions down from 13 applicants and awarded 10 CAHs with awards ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 each to support quality related projects in their hospitals.

Congratulations to the Grant Awardees

Blue Mountain Hospital, John Day

Curry Health Network, Gold Beach

Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande

Harney District Hospital, Burns

Lake District Hospital, Lakeview

Peace Harbor Medical Center, Florence

Pioneer Memorial Hospital, Heppner

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, Lincoln City

Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital, Newport

Tillamook Regional Medical Center, Tillamook

Each CAH will provide a presentation outlining their projects and successes at the 34th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference in Sunriver, Oregon in October 2017.

If you have any questions on the grants, please contact Stacie Rothwell at rothwels@ohsu.edu.